V-Day Dining

By Mira Stauffacher

Several local restaurants will be offering special deals and menu courses for Valentine's Day on or around Feb. 14. At the French Garden Restaurant in Sebastopol, a four-course meal is served including specialties such as lobster bisque, roasted beef tenderloin and Salmon Creek Farm duck. A Valentine's Cioppino dinner is featured at San Geronimo Restaurant and Bar, with an endless basket of garlic bread and an endless bowl of linguini, finished off with a "Sweet Heart" dessert platter.

That special someone could also be brought to SolBar in Calistoga to indulge in a glass of Date Night Cabernet, or the "Napaphrodisiac," a one-night-only dinner option offering oysters and sparkling wine. Just south, in Napa, Ubuntu offers a five-course tasting menu in addition to dessert tasting. Barndiva in Healdsburg will expand its menu for the entirety of Valentine's weekend, providing tasty selections such as croquette, truffle risotto, seared petite fillet beef and Meyer lemon sorbet.

On Feb. 12-14, Hog Island Oyster Co., Oxbow Wine and Cheese Merchant and Three Twins organic ice cream hold a fundraiser for Napa Valley Hospice Adult Day Services. Ten percent of the profits will go to the organization, which provides healthcare for individuals with chronic conditions.

Also on Feb. 14, Rendez Vous Bistro in Santa Rosa will give out gift bags filled with a bottle of wine, rich chocolates and candles. At Yankee Pier in Larkspur, guests can choose from an a la carte menu selecting from starters such as Dungeness crab cakes, pan roasted Monterey squid and grilled flat-iron steak—and can cleanse the palate with a sweet vanilla bean creme brule.

Chocolate lovers might want to consider visiting Ehlers Estate vineyards in St. Helena throughout this entire month; Ehlers has partnered with Woodhouse Chocolates to offer an ambrosial sit-down wine and chocolate tasting experience, as well as a tour of the grounds. Reservations are highly recommended.

Want the love fest to continue? Or simply hungover from Valentine's madness? Make your way to Stillwater Distillery in Petaluma on Wednesday, Feb. 16, from 1pm to 5pm to join Brendan Moylan, one of Marin County's leading craft brewers, for his 50th birthday bash. Take a tour of the craft distillery and toast to his birthday free of charge with a beer and shot. Now that's true love.